Cannabis in medicine: what are future doctors lacking?

Cannabis in medicine is already part of conversations among patients, healthcare professionals, and researchers. But are future doctors prepared to answer questions on the subject? A study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research shows there is still a significant road ahead.

The survey evaluated 250 incoming medical students in the United States and investigated attitudes and knowledge regarding the potential medicinal properties of cannabis.

The findings stand out: although students demonstrated a predominantly favorable attitude toward the medicinal use of cannabis, their knowledge regarding therapeutic indications, adverse effects, and differences between THC and CBD was limited.

Cannabis in medicine: interest outweighs knowledge

The study revealed an important contrast. On one hand, students displayed interest and favorable attitudes toward medical cannabis. On the other, performance on topic-related questions uncovered noticeable knowledge gaps.

Among participants, the average rate of correct answers was 46.1% for adverse effects, 53.7% for therapeutic indications, and 45.4% on questions regarding the differences between THC and CBD.

This data helps illustrate the scale of the challenge. After all, understanding the therapeutic potential of a substance also requires comprehending its risks, limitations, indications, and potential drug interactions.

And this knowledge becomes even more crucial when patients walk into the clinic with questions.

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Medical cannabis is still rarely covered in training

One of the key points highlighted by researchers is the limited presence of the topic within medical curricula.

According to the study, fewer than 10% of medical school curricula in the United States include content related to medical cannabis.

Among study participants, 61.2% reported feeling unprepared to answer patient questions about cannabis, while 67.2% stated they were unprepared to counsel patients on medical cannabis.

In other words: while interest exists, it is not always backed by the necessary education to translate curiosity into evidence-based clinical guidance.

Does personal experience make a difference?

Of the students evaluated, 34.4% reported knowing someone who used medical cannabis. This group performed better on questions regarding therapeutic indications and differences between THC and CBD.

This does not mean, however, that personal experience can replace formal medical training.

For researchers, these findings reinforce precisely the need to deliver structured, evidence-based content throughout medical education.

THC and CBD still cause confusion

Although both are cannabinoids found in the plant, they possess distinct characteristics and should not be treated as interchangeable. Grasping these differences is essential for a responsible conversation about potential therapeutic applications.

In the study, questions concerning THC and CBD saw one of the lowest accuracy rates: 45.4%.

This finding takes on added importance amid an increasingly common reality: patients often seek information on cannabis-based products even before speaking with a healthcare professional.

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Future doctors want to learn about cannabis

According to the study, 80.4% of participants supported the inclusion of medical cannabis topics in undergraduate medical training. In addition, 73.6% advocated for the topic to be addressed during residency.

For the authors, the results highlight a divide between students' attitudes toward medical cannabis and their level of knowledge shown during assessments.

The study characterizes this as favorable attitudes that are “incongruent with their knowledge deficits.”

Therefore, the question does not seem to be merely whether cannabis should be part of medical dialogue, but also how to teach the subject.

Why discuss cannabis in medicine?

When a patient asks about cannabis, a responsible answer must go beyond personal opinions.

Clinicians must take into account:

• available scientific evidence;
• therapeutic indications;
• potential adverse effects;
• drug interactions;
• individual patient characteristics;
• quality and composition of the product used.

In this context, expanding medical training can help future professionals meet a demand that already exists across society.

Cannabis in medicine still involves many open questions, and science continues to investigate its potential therapeutic uses. For this reason, qualified, evidence-based information is fundamental to prevent both overblown expectations and the automatic dismissal of the subject.